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Chemical in Many Air Fresheners May Affect Lungs

New research shows that a chemical compound found in many air fresheners, toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs and other deodorizing products may be harmful to the lungs.

A chemical in many air freshening products may affect some people's lungs. Image by Arnold Greenwell, reproduced with permission from Environmental Health Perspectives.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a diverse set of compounds emitted as
gases from thousands of commonly-used products, including tobacco smoke, pesticides,
paints and cleaning products. VOCs are also in automotive exhaust. Researchers
at NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) set out
to see if exposure to VOCs affects lung function. They compared blood concentrations
of 11 common VOCs with lung function using data from the third National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The survey, conducted by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention between 1988 and 1994, included a component
to assess the level of common pesticides and VOCs in the U.S. population.

The results were published in the August issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.
The research team examined data from 953 adults 20-59 years old who had both
VOC blood measures and lung function measures. Of the common VOCs analyzed, including
benzene, styrene, toluene and acetone, only a compound called 1,4-dichlorobenzene
(1,4-DCB) was associated with reduced lung function. This white solid compound
with a distinctive aroma is used in mothballs and as a deodorant in products
such as room deodorizers, urinal and toilet bowl blocks. On average, African
Americans had the highest levels and non-Hispanic whites the lowest. Those with
higher blood levels of 1,4-DCB had lower lung function.

Dr. Leslie Elliott, a researcher on the study, said, "Because people spend so
much time indoors where these products are used, it's important that we understand
the effects that even low levels might have on the respiratory system. This study
provides us with a preliminary look at the potential impact these compounds have
on lung function."

While this study found a relationship between 1,4-DCB blood levels and lung
function, it doesn't prove that the compound causes lower lung function. The
researchers assessed the influence of many factors that might influence lung
function, such as type of heating, presence of furred pets, occupation, smoking
history and many other factors. However, participants might have been exposed
to other factors that could affect lung function yet were not assessed in this
study.

To be cautious, NIEHS researcher Dr. Stephanie London, lead investigator on
the study, advised, "The best way to protect yourself, especially children who
may have asthma or other respiratory illnesses, is to reduce the use of products
and materials that contain these compounds."